French media is reporting that Patrick Edlinger died on Friday, November 16, at his home in La Palud-sur-Verdon in southern France at the age of 52. The cause of death is unknown.  Edlinger was one of the greatest climbers of his generation and helped establish modern sport climbing with difficult ascents up to 5.14b in the late 1980s.

North Americans will likely remember Edlinger when he cruised to victory at the televised international climbing competition held at Snowbird, Utah in 1988.

Here is a video of that comp as well as a video of Edlinger climbing in the Verdon.